ABSTRACT
Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae, propterea quod a cultu atque human-itate provinciae longissime absunt, minimeque ad eos mercatores saepe commeant atque ea quae ad effeminandos animos pertinent important.
Of all these (peoples), the Belgians are the bravest, because they are furthest from the civilization and politeness of our provinces, and merchants least frequently visit them, and import those things which tend to effeminate the courage.
Commentarii de bello gallico, Julius Cesar, J.M.Eberhart, editor, Paris, 1809, Volume 4, Liber 1, Chapter 1, page 4.
